Pages

Monday, 26 November 2012

This past month I have been pretty absent from the book blogging community. I didn't want to be and I definitely missed it. Unfortunately the month of November has been crazy when it comes to uni work. I had two 2000 word essays, one 2000 word lab report and a MCQ exam, along with all my normal practicals and lectures. Lets just say that I have had very little time to my self. I have had no time to read anything or write anything. I was planning on taking part in NaNoWriMo but that couldn't happen either.

Now my last essay has been handed in and, hopefully, I have got a lot more time. I want to get back into the swing of things. Watch this space.

Wednesday, 21 November 2012

When fifteen-year-old actress Lucy Carter loses her older sister in a car accident, her mother shuts down and her father can’t hold the family together. Their only choice is to ship Lucy off to the Edmond School for Performing Arts. But boarding school is no cure for Lucy’s grief. With failing grades, wooden stage performances, and curfew violations, Lucy is threatened with expulsion. For the once talented Lucy, it feels as though she has nowhere to turn.
One night, Lucy hears mysterious music drifting through the school’s old heating system. The music leads her to a troubled but passionate songwriter whose brilliance gives her the strength to perform like never before. Yet their intense relationship puts Lucy in a precarious position: if she follows her muse, will she lose herself? And if she breaks it off, can she stand on her own again?

Here is a chance to win some illustrations of characters from the book.

Sunday, 18 November 2012

Thrown together by the cruelties of a modern day world in which genuine compassion is rare, evil abounds, and goodness is often tainted by the fight to survive, two unusually gifted teenagers discover they are linked by a fairytale told them repeatedly throughout their youth by their late mothers.
Destiny awaits them, but first they must locate the others, as the fairytale foretells, to defeat the evil monster who waits and change the lonely world in which they live. Only then will they find peace... and family.

Excerpt

The cold, dim room saddened the visitor upon entry. Immediately, with a slap, he flipped the light switch up, drew the shades back, and placed the cheerful pot of daisies in the center of the shelf. In that location, the daisies sat in view of the shallowly breathing patient, should she awaken. He knew better, though.
He seated himself next to the hospital bed, in the uncomfortable wooden chair, the seat cushion so well used little padding remained, lumps forming beneath the green plastic coating. Reaching out, he took a slender, limp, dark hand in his own, and then gently began stroking the forehead and hair of the sleeping beauty before him with his free hand. Tears pooled in his dark eyes while guilt flooded his heart.
"Momma, I'm here. I know you already know that, and I realize I haven't been here in a while. I haven't exactly been doin' things that would make you proud the past few months, either, and I'm sorry.
“I hope you don't know too much about that, but I've just been so angry. Just be glad I ain't in jail," he paused, waited, hoped that her eyes would flutter and he would see that disappointing look she would always give him when he transgressed. Her silence pushed him onward in the one-sided discussion.
"You'll never guess what happened to me this morning," excitement shook his voice, muffled only slightly by a guilty tone, and flowed on hopefully, making him sound almost chipper. "I was doin' somethin' I shouldn'ta been doin', one of them things you wouldn't be proud of? And this girl walked up, ya' know?" he paused again, this time not for a response from the comatose woman before him, but out of fear that what he was about to tell her would be overheard, as well as a little disbelief over what had happened.
Anyone listening outside might think him crazy when they heard the description of what he saw that morning, what he wanted his mother to know. After raising his eyes to the open door and the shuttered window looking out on an empty hall, he leaned forward, close to her left ear, her light, slow breath slightly warming his cool forehead, "I saw Bree this morning, Momma. Really! I saw her, and she told me I had to come see you. She made it sound really important, Momma... you know... like you might wake up today or somethin'. She knew I hadn't been here in a while, too. Her smile, Momma, man I surely miss her smile. Remember how pretty she smiled, Momma? Remember the sparkle in her eyes? I saw her today, Momma, and it made me so happy, but it made me feel guilty, too." He stopped, stood for a second, leaned forward again, and gripped the slender, brown hand firmer, a sense of urgency filling his heart.
"Wake up, Momma. You can wake up now; you can come back to me; it's safe, really. I really need you, especially now. At least give me a sign you can hear me, Momma, please?" a tear rolled down his soft, plum cheek, but her eyes were dry, motionless and tightly closed. When no sign came, he scooted back in the chair, folded his hands together, set his elbows on the edge of the bed and bowed his head in silent prayer, something he hadn't done in months, since he had given up on her… on life.

Wednesday, 14 November 2012

When fifteen-year-old actress Lucy Carter loses her older sister in a car accident, her mother shuts down and her father can’t hold the family together. Their only choice is to ship Lucy off to the Edmond School for Performing Arts. But boarding school is no cure for Lucy’s grief. With failing grades, wooden stage performances, and curfew violations, Lucy is threatened with expulsion. For the once talented Lucy, it feels as though she has nowhere to turn.
One night, Lucy hears mysterious music drifting through the school’s old heating system. The music leads her to a troubled but passionate songwriter whose brilliance gives her the strength to perform like never before. Yet their intense relationship puts Lucy in a precarious position: if she follows her muse, will she lose herself? And if she breaks it off, can she stand on her own again?

Author Jennifer L. Fry stopped by today with a teaser of her book A Part To Play!

Excerpt

She hesitated, afraid to say the words aloud. "Like make me good, really good. Before, I was, you know, sinking, then he came along; his music and everything. Chris is why I got the role of Eva."
Isa snorted. "That's crazy. What, are you channeling him? He's not the one on stage."
"But he's the one here." Lucy tapped her chest.
Isa burst into laughter, rolling onto her back. "That's the stupidest thing I ever heard."
Her feelings now hurt, Lucy's eyes teared up. "Never mind."
"Oh c'mon, L. Don't get all weepy. You don't need this guy if he makes you feel like nothing unless you're with him. This isn't you."
"How do you know? You don't even know me." Tears spilled down Lucy's cheeks.
Isa tried to catch Lucy's eyes. "What does that mean?"
"You know, I have a lot of studying to do, so you should go." Lucy wiped her cheeks, angry at herself for thinking Isa would be on her side. The only side Isa was on was her own.
"Fine." Isa headed to the door. "But maybe you should take tonight off. Get some space." Then she closed the door behind her.

Author Info

Jennifer L. Fry is a writer, artist, and teacher in Marin County, California, where she lives with her wonderful husband, two adorable dogs, and orange tabby cat. Though she has been writing since she was young, A Part to Play is her first novel.

Saturday, 10 November 2012

I know that I have not been posting recently but I am really busy this month with Uni work. I bearly have time to get anything else done, especially reading, nevermind writing blog posts. But I have made time to share what books I received this week.

I cannot believe that we are onto book 13 in the Morganville vampire series. Not many series get that far and still remain strong. I am currently reading it, when I get a chance, and I am loving it so far.

I did not realise Days of Blood and Starlight would be as big as it is. I am looking forward to starting this one.

Poison Princess also looks pretty interesting so I spent my loyalty points on it. It cost be a grand total of £1.75.

Monday, 5 November 2012

Two years after watching her kidnappers go to prison, Naomi Jensen is still in love with one of them. Jesse will be released in a few years, and Naomi knows college is the perfect distraction while she waits. But when her new friend Finn makes her question what is right and what is wrong, she begins to wonder if Jesse is the one for her … until she discovers he's out on parole. Naomi must sort through her confusion to figure out where love and freedom truly lie—in Finn, who has no connections to her past, or Jesse, who has just asked her to run away with him.
Pieces is a companion to The Breakaway and can be read independently, if desired.

I enjoyed The Breakaway and I am looking forward to seeing how this series continues. If you would like, you can read my review for The Breakaway HERE!!

Author Bio

Michelle lives and writes in Utah, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. She loves the seasons, but late summer and early fall are her favorites. She adores chocolate, sushi, and lots of ethnic food, and loves to read and write books in whatever time she can grab between her sword-wielding husband and energetic daughter. She believes a simple life is the best life.